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Trump promised big tax refunds. Mine can barely buy a Happy Meal.

13 0
20.04.2026

With the April 15 deadline passed, the pressure of getting your taxes done is officially over (unless you filed for an extension).

Now the question is, how did this tax year treat you? Was it, as President Donald Trump promised, the "biggest tax refund season ever," with a $1,000 average increase in refunds? Or maybe not so much?

For our latest Forum feature, we asked how tax law changes, including tax cuts on tips and overtime, affected you.

Below are some of the responses you gave us. For more opportunities to weigh in at usatoday.com/forum, leave us a voicemail at (202) 655-3923 or drop us a note at forum@usatoday.com.

Most Americans pay too much in taxes. Billionaires? Not so much.

I did get my taxes filed by April 15. I'm married and filed jointly in the $206,701 to $394,600 tax bracket.

As for whether Americans pay too much in taxes: Mere mortals do. Billionaires not so much. Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act (which made permanent parts of his 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) did not help me or my taxes this year. And I don't think it was good for the country or taxpayers overall.

I'm retired and on a fixed income. I got $5,000 back last year. I paid in $5,000 this year. If I had gotten a refund, it would have gone to pay my higher fuel, insurance, food and electric bills.

If I could direct how my........

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